Need info on Western Express

Hi I'm Jon. I received a first offender felony for getting into a fight at a party 2 years ago when I was 23. My probation is almost over and my record will be sealed or whatever. I worked for Carolina Cargo earlier this year and it was not a good experience for me personally. They paid 10cents a mile and the equipment was not that great. Western express has told me they will hire me in a month from now. Here are my questions that I couldn't find on the Western Exp website.

1.How much do they pay dry van drivers vs flatbed drivers?
2.How long do they keep you out on the road at a time for recent grads?
3.Is there a rider policy?
4.Is there a pet policy?
5. Is the equipment really only 12 months old and in good shape like they say on the website?
6. Are they automatic trucks?
7. I Have heard bad things about the company but I'm assuming they are a little easier to work with than C Cargo.
8. Do they pay for layover when you have to sit without a load?
9. Can you start off with a dedicated route or regional or do you have to go over the road first? I would be fine either way just to get my foot in the door.
10. Do they send you to all 48 states and or canada?
11. Is there forced dispatch?

I will ask the recruiter more about these questions next time I talk to him but any other info would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking I should start with the dry van they get home every 2 weeks I believe?
Thanks for any input I'm so ready to start trucking and I'm the type of guy that will show respect to everyone on the road and do what I can to help fellow truckers in need. Wasn't trying to bash Carolina Cargo they gave me a chance when no one else would. -Jon

 

Also do they assign you a truck that you can take home? Sorry for all the questions I'm just #### psyched I got a call back.

 

What is so bad about it though like could you give me some details about the questions i asked? Thanks for your response by the way. How do they take advantage of you?

 

Ok so I talked to the recruiter again they said that I can bring a buddy for 4 dollars a week. I like that. They did say it was forced dispatch that kind of freaks me out about driving the rig in NYC but I'll do it. I'm just hoping the truck they put me in will have an armrest and cruise control and not 1.5 million miles on it unlike the one at Carolina Cargo.
They told me after 6 weeks of training that I will be out 7-14 days and then home for 2. I will ask for a non smoking trainer and hopefully he/she won't be an unsafe nutcase threatening me the whole time like my last trainer at the other company. I have been out of trucking school over a year now so I need to ask if I need the refresher course. I did drive from SC to Cali and back in Feb 2013. SO far from what I hear they won't send me to California or Washington which I hear are the worst states to drive a truck. Am I missing anything here? I really need to get away and work as my wife left me for another man recently. Being home every 7-14 days will be a big deal to me though because my dog is all I have right now and they said no pet policy. Thanks again for any info it means a lot. -Jon

 

Also will I be assigned a truck that I can bobtail home on my days off? Will I be allowed to stop at walmarts with this company or will I only be allowed to drive to designated truck stops and be charged for every mile I go out of route?